US and Cuba may be at 'turning point'

US President Barack Obama has said that his meeting with Cuban President Raul Castro could be a "turning point".

The meeting on the fringes of the Summit of the Americas was the first formal talk between the two countries' leaders in half a century. Photo: AFP

He described the meeting on the fringes of the Summit of the Americas as "candid and fruitful".

Mr Obama said that the former foes would continue to have differences but that they could advance their mutual interests.

The meeting was the first formal talk between the two countries' leaders in half a century.

"What we have both concluded is that we can disagree with a spirit of respect and civility," said President Obama. "Over time, it is possible for us to turn the page and develop a new relationship between our two countries."

His remarks came at the end of a regional summit which has been dominated by the historic thaw between US-Cuba relations.

'Forgiveness'

Cuban leader Raul Castro said that the two countries had "agreed to disagree" when necessary.

"We are disposed to talk about everything, with patience," he said. "Some things we will agree with, and others we won't."

Earlier, the Cuban leader referred to Mr Obama as an "honest man" after a lengthy speech largely taken up with the history of the relationship between the US and Cuba.

"When I talk about the revolution, the passion oozes out of me," the Cuban leader said. "I have to ask President Obama for forgiveness. He is not responsible for the things which happened before his time."

Raul Castro said that the two countries had 'agreed to disagree' when necessary. Photo: AFP

Latin American and Caribbean leaders at the summit in Panama have welcomed the reconciliation.

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hailed it as a courageous effort to end the last vestiges of the Cold War, which she said had caused great damage in the hemisphere.

President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner of Argentina gave the main credit to Cuba, saying it had fought with unprecedented dignity against the US blockade.

The US broke off diplomatic relations with Cuba in 1959 after Fidel Castro and his brother Raul led a revolution toppling US-backed President Fulgencio Batista. The Castros established a revolutionary socialist state with close ties to the Soviet Union.

Mr Castro has called for the lifting of the US economic blockade on Cuba and the country's removal from Washington's list of state sponsors of terrorism.

For Washington, political reform and human rights in Cuba are key issues.

The Summit of the Americas brings together the leaders of North, Central and South America. This, the seventh, is the first which Cuba is attending.

Attempts to improve relations between the US and Cuba began in December when Mr Obama declared Washington's approach "outdated".

Venezuela Washington relations still 'fractious'

As US ties with Cuba improve, those between Venezuela and Washington remain fractious.

The US imposed sanctions last month on a group of Venezuelan officials it accuses of human rights abuses. Mr Obama also issued an executive order declaring Venezuela a threat to US national security.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has described the order as "disproportionate".

President Maduro spoke briefly at the summit to President Obama, who stressed that the US was interested in supporting and not threatening Venezuela.

The Venezuelan leader disputed that view, but according to a tweet from one of his aides "there was a lot of truth, respect and cordiality" during the short conversation.

The summit also highlighted differences between President Rafael Correa of Ecuador and the US.

Mr Correa said the US had failed to live up to its ideals: "Let's talk about human rights. In Ecuador we don't have torture, the death penalty or extrajudicial renditions."

In response, Mr Obama said the US does not claim to be perfect. "We make a claim to being open to change," he said.